I was invited by the Hublot boutique of the Place Vendome in Paris to discover the full range of the novelties (except the Techframe) which were unveiled during the Geneva week at the beginning of the year. And since with Hublot, things are not the same than with the other brands, I could see and handle 39 pieces!!!

Obviously, if you consider any brand, you may think that 39 novelties since the beginning of the year  for a brand which exhibits at Basel... and before the Fair... are way too many! And you would be right. But we are in the Hublot context for which the strategy is not to build a catalogue of a permanent collection. Of course, some of these pieces will join it. But in the end, most of them are limited editions to be able to target specific clients.

These clients are not always the same. They can be contemporary art lovers (Orlinski), golf players (Unico Golf), elegant people (Italia Independent)... it is in the end quite difficult to not find your most suitable Hublot watch if you like the concept around the brand.

Once Jean-Claude Biver said: Being an owner of a Hublot watch is a state of mind. You buy a Hublot watch because you are happy and I can understand this statement. The brand provokes high emotions: you love some pieces or you hate others. I feel the same. I can find several watches very appealing with the big desire to add them into my collection and at the same time I'm very reluctant to see some others...

Let's discover now the watches I put on my wrist during my visit. It was a true privilege to see this collection of novelties because it didn't stay very long in Paris and already moved to another Hublot boutique in Europe.

The Hublot window on the Place Vendôme:



Ready to celebrate the Year of the Dog even if Hublot doesn't have a dedicated timepiece to this event (at least to my knowledge). The boutique organized a nice finger food lunch with some Swiss specialities but the cheese was not Jean-Claude Biver's one!



The Berluti set is a good reminder that we are on the Place Vendôme, one of the most luxurious squares in the world:



Laurent Meritet, the boutique manager welcomed the guests with his team:



I was introduced by Usain Bolt himself:



But very quickly, I had to put a watch on my wrist. And I couldn't resist to test my fav piece of the collection, the Unico Sang Bleu Titanium Blue:



Let's start with the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinski Blue Ceramic 45mm. I like a lot this watch because it is so Hublot and so Orlinski at the same time. I tend to prefer the Blue Ceramic version because I think that the case shapes are better highlighted. The problem of the Titanium version is that I find it too bright and luminous. Moreover, the blue color is very consistent with the creations of the artist.



Anyway, the titanium version is also very appealing! Both versions are very successful and I think they are already sold out.



Let's enter a different universe. Lapo Elkann and Hublot offer us a new way to wear fabrics!

What is your fav one?

The Pinstripe (with Ceramic case)?



The Pieds de Poule (with a titanium case)?



Or the Prince de Galles (with a king gold case)?

I have to confess that I like the three watches because each one defines its own atmosphere. I have a soft spot for the pinstripe since it offers a perfect example of casual elegance.



Let's take off the suit and put on a driving outfit! Here are the new Big Bang Ferrari.

The most eye-catching is the version with the red ceramic bezel. I'm not a fan of this watch. I find the contrast between the case and the bezel too high. But it offers a very energetic design.



I much prefer the Magic Gold version.

There is something I like in the redesign of the Big Bang Ferrari chronographs: it is the way the crown is integrated into the case. It enhances the originality of the case and it gives a very fluid touch. I really have the feeling that the watch underwent a wind-tunnel test!



We keep the 45mm diameter with the Big Bang Unico GMT King Gold.

The watch is large and quite bulky (I find the Ferrari more convincing on this point) but the mix of blue and gold details works well. You will notice the day/night ring on the center of the dial.



Hublot introduced in January two new versions of the Meca-10:

The King Gold blue:



And the Ceramic Blue.

Both are well made and I'm happy to find again the very technical rendering of the Meca-10 dial.

My fav piece is the Ceramic Blue version because the main color gives to the watch the feeling that it is built like a meccano object... and I like this idea!



I don't like the Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour even if it gathers some nice design ideas like the bezel. But it is not for me a very refined watch and the poker world is absolutely not my cup of tea.




The Classic Fusion Ceramic Bracelet is much quieter and elegant. The black and blue atmosphere works well and I appreciate the shape and design of the bracelet. A full range of watches are available with this configuration.




The nicest surprise was for me the ability to test the Big Bang Sang Bleu Titanium Blue.

What a watch!

It is for me the best example of the Art of Fusion. Both worlds (Hublot and Maxime Buchi) collide to create this original and in a way disturbing piece. The specific time display raises its interest and the case finishes offer an alternative style to the usual Hublot design. This Titanium Blue version is for sure a hit and my fav Hublot!



The Titanium White is also nice but I didn't feel the same charm. I'm not sure this color is the best friend of the time display and moreover, the legibility is not its best asset!



Let's come back to a more classic style with the Classic Fusion Green. Hublot introduced a full range of watches featuring this gorgeous green dial. If you hesitate between a titanium or a king gold version, I give you my advice: the king gold & green dial combo is amazing!




I told you at the beginning of the article that Hublot is a minset. Look at how happy the guests were during the event! And you can see that I was able to pose with the Hublot attitude with energy and smile!




My brother (who was on the right side of the previous picture) and I left the boutique with a cricket ball... and more importantly with the pleasure to have spent a nice Sunday afternoon!



Thanks a lot to the staff of the Hublot boutique for the warm welcome and the organization of the event.

Fx